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There may be a good reason why the Blue Bombers are dead last in pass defence to date.

They have been forced to make at least two changes to their secondary personnel in each of the four CFL games they have played thus far. And they will have to make at least one more this week when Winnipeg plays host to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Import defensive back Davin Bush (groin) will not play while DB Anthony Malbrough (hamstring) is unlikely to return.

Also still sidelined is cornerback Robert Bean, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery.

"We've just got to stay healthy from this point on," Bombers head coach Doug Berry said yesterday. "When you've got a bunch of guys nicked up, we can't afford to have any more than we have right now. Nobody (in the CFL) has enough depth there. We're scratching right down to the bottom right now."

Although he did not play much, recently-signed import DB Sam Young dressed for the last game against Montreal and will likely get more action versus Hamilton.

Meanwhile, import defensive end Gavin Walls (arm) looks like he is ready to return and will likely replace Bush on the roster.

ANOTHER SELLOUT?: The Bombers had sold 24,666 tickets to Friday's contest as of 5 p.m., yesterday, meaning they are inching closer to their third straight sellout. And no one in Bomberland could recall the last time the club recorded three consecutive ones. Club director of marketing Jerry Maslowsky said there were three in 2001 but they were not consecutive.

"It is outstanding," said Bombers president/CEO Lyle Bauer. "Our players have played extremely hard and have not quit, and that's the characteristic that Doug Berry is stamping on this football team. That's what we want and what our fans are very excited about.

"And you can't forget about No. 85 (Milt Stegall). There's a lot of people who would like to be in the stadium when that thing happens."

That would be setting the CFL's all-time TD record.

REVENGE ON ROBERTS: Some Bombers, including OL Andrew Greene, exacted revenge on tailback Charles Roberts at the end of yesterday's practice. They carried him to the sidelines where he was doused with a bucket of Gatorade.

"He says I condone that," said Berry, laughing. "Charles, I just don't like Gatorade, why would I want to get in the middle of that?"

Roberts had doused Greene during a practice last week.

Berry, by the way, relishes the latest heat wave.

"I love it," he said. "I'm used to it, I like it. It helps you maintain focus at practice. Really, I like it."

HASHMARKS: Although WR Terrence Edwards (turf toe) did not practise yesterday, Berry said he will test it today ... The Bombers have no immediate interest in former Montreal WR Thyron Anderson, just released by Hamilton ... Bombers LB Barrin Simpson leads the CFL in defensive tackles (31), S Kyries Hebert leads in special teams tackles (11) and LB Corey Jenkins leads in forced fumbles (three).